Vegan Pasta Salad

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Vegan Pasta Salad is easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. With a homemade oil-free dressing to go with, this salad is completely plant based, and, of course, delicious!

A bowl of vegan pasta salad with serving utensils.

This cold pasta salad recipe is a great dish to bring along to summer cookouts, picnics, and BBQs - especially when the weather is so warm and all you want is a cold dish.

Made with chickpeas, tomatoes, peppers, and olives, this pasta salad is perfect for vegan and non-vegans alike! Everyone will enjoy this tasty salad and no one will be missing the pepperoni!

Why I love this Vegan Pasta Salad Recipe

Dietary needs - this recipe is vegan, easily made gluten-free, dairy-free, oil-free, and sugar free
Vegan, but you wouldn't know it - this is classic pasta salad, with some chickpeas added in for extra protein and a different texture. Serve up this salad at your next party and watch as no one notices it's completely plant-based
Secretly packed with protein - especially if you use a bean-based pasta your pasta salad will have plenty of protein to keep you full and satisfied

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Rotini Pasta: I used a bean-based pasta for some extra protein. You can use any regular or gluten-free pasta you'd like!
Chickpeas: pop open a can of chickpeas for this recipe. You can also use another bean like white beans or pinto beans
Cherry Tomatoes: or grape tomatoes
Bell Peppers: green bell peppers are my favorite, so that's what I used, but you can use any color of bell pepper
Black Olives: You could also use green or kalamata olives. Don't like olives? Leave 'em out.
Vegan Feta: this is optional, since most vegan feta brands use oil. But the feta does add a good salty flavor and will please your non-vegan friends
Basil
Homemade Italian Dressing: this is my go-to Italian dressing. It has so much flavor and none of the bad stuff. If you do buy a store-bought Italian, look for one with olive oil or avocado oil and avoid buying a dressing that uses canola or soybean oil

How to make Vegan Pasta Salad

Step 1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool.

Step 2. When the pasta is cool, place it in a large bowl along with the remaining ingredients.

Step 3. Toss the salad. Refrigerated until ready to serve. Enjoy!

FAQ & Expert Tips

Make this pasta salad gluten-free

Any gluten-free pasta like brown rice or bean pasta will work great in this recipe.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yep! This recipe stores well in the fridge, so you can definitely make it ahead of time.

Can I add different veggies than what the recipe calls for?

Yep! Feel free to experiment with other vegetables like cucumbers, onions, and broccoli.

Storage

Keep this vegan pasta salad in the fridge. It will last about a week.

Recipe Prayer

Thank you God for this pasta salad. Thank you for bringing us together with friends and family to enjoy this dish. Amen.

More summer salads

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